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Mon, Mar 17, 2025

Gakushuin celebrates opening of a new museum on campus with an exhibit featuring the culture of Japanese peerage

"Robe Montante" (Heisei era), a silk dress formerly worn by Empress Emeritus Michiko, is one of the main attractions of this exhibition. (From a press preview on March 12, 2025)

The newly inaugurated Kasumi Kaikan Memorial Gakushuin Museum (formerly, Gakushuin University Museum of History) on the Gakushuin University campus (Mejiro, Tokyo) is currently running an exhibition featuring the patronage of the Imperial family to preserve and nurture the arts and culture of Japan.

The mid-Edo period folding screen painting depicting scenes from the “Suma” and “Matsukaze” chapters of The Tale of Genji (From a press preview on March 12, 2025)

“Gakushuin Collection: Patronage of the Imperial Household for the Arts and Culture,” the exhibition that opened on March 14, 2025, showcases a few dozen items — works of art, classic documents and literary materials — from among the museum’s vast collection of items associated with the Imperial Household and Japanese peerage (about 250,000 items in total).

The illustrated handscroll of “The Tale of the Virtuous Monk and the Child” from the late Muromachi period (From a press preview on March 12, 2025)

Gakushuin Collection
Patronage of the Imperial Household for the Arts and Culture

Mar 14 (Fri) – May 17 (Sat), 2025

Kasumi Kaikan Memorial Gakushuin Museum
(Mejiro, Tokyo)

*See outline below for details

In the museum’s special exhibition room, the “Robe Montante” (Heisei era), an elegant silk dress formerly worn by Empress Emeritus Michiko, takes center stage. Some of the more conspicuous exhibits surrounding the main display include those of artwork themed on ancient noble culture, such as the mid-Edo period folding screen painting depicting scenes from the Suma and Matsukaze chapters of “The Tale of Genji,” and the illustrated handscroll of “The Tale of the Virtuous Monk and the Child” from the late Muromachi period.

The Tale of Great Minister Ban (copy)
Edo period
Set for Green Tea with a Phoenix Design
Kanzan Denshichi 1872-87
Kanzan Denshichi’s set for green tea on display (From a press preview on March 12, 2025)

With the advent of Japan’s modern era, artists and artisans of the pre-modern Edo period (17th-19th) who benefited from the patronage of the feudal lords had no choice but to find new ways to continue their creative work. During the Meiji era (1868-1912), the Imperial family and its branch families stepped in to provide their support by commissioning artists and artisans with great talent and technique, thereby helping to preserve Japan’s creative culture passed down from earlier times.

The “Set for Green Tea with a Phoenix Design” by Kanzan Denshichi and “Pair of Vases with the Imperial Crest” by Tamaya Shoten are put on display as prime examples of what the Imperial patronage begot.

Pair of Vases with the Imperial Crest
Tamaya Shoten 1920
Box for Personal Items with the Imperial Crest and Chrysanthemum Branches in Maki-e Lacquer
1905-06
(On view: Apr. 15-May 17)

Other items on display include household items actually used by members of the Imperial family and the peerage such as the set of Western tableware shown here and even nail scissors, which are all related to Imperial culture and customs, some of which are fairly unknown outside the Imperial walls.

Formal Court Robe for Marchioness Sugako
Taisho-Pre-war Showa era
(On view: Apr. 15-May 1)
Cypress Fan
Taisho-Pre-war Showa era
(On view: Apr. 15-May 1)
Beaded Bags
Taisho-Pre-war Showa era
Ornamental Pocket-Book
Meiji-Taisho era
Set of Western Tableware
Koransha Company
Pre-war Showa era
Bonbonnieres in various shapes

Bonbonnieres (containers for confectioneries usually made of silver), which were brought to the Imperial Household in the middle of the Meiji era, seem to have outpaced their originators in Europe. Today, gifting bonbonnieres to visitors in celebratory occasions has become customary for the Imperial Household. On display in the exhibition are containers that are uniquely shaped, and also telling of the delicate crafting techniques applied to make them.

Bonbonniere in the Shape of a Crane and Turtle
Banquet Celebrating the 25th Wedding Anniversary of Emperor Meiji
Date of bestowal: March 9, 1894
Bonbonniere in the Shape of an Octofoil Mirror with a Phoenix Design
Tokyo Imperial Palace Banquet of the Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Taisho
Date of bestowal: Dec. 8, 1915
Bonbonniere in the Shape of a Japanese-style Ship

The exhibition runs through May 17, 2025, free of admission.

Outline of the event

Schedule

Fri, Mar 14, 2025〜Sat, May 17, 2025

Gakushuin Collection
Patronage of the Imperial Household for the Arts and Culture

10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
(Last admission at 4:30 p.m.)

Gakushuin University Museum of History

Venue

Kasumi Kaikan Memorial Gakushuin Museum

Gakushuin University
1-5-1 Mejiro
Toshima Ward, Tokyo

Admission

Free

Closing day

- Sundays except Apr 13 & 27
- Holidays except Mar 20 (Thu, Vernal Equinox Day)
- Apr 14 (Mon)

Contact

Tel. 03-5992-1173

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